Snow removal continues

Classes at local schools were canceled for another day Wednesday, but municipal and county offices re-opened after the area had been hit with the second major snow storm in less than a week.

Comment

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

Writer

Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Updated Feb 27, 2013 at 6:13 PM

Posted Feb. 27, 2013 at 6:09 PM
Updated Feb 27, 2013 at 6:13 PM

Classes at local schools were canceled for another day Wednesday, but municipal and county offices re-opened after the area had been hit with the second major snow storm in less than a week.

This week’s storm, which reached the area Monday evening, dropped more than 10 inches of snow in some areas of the county. Light snow continued to fall Wednesday morning.

“This one was challenging,” said Mike Spickelmier, Leavenworth County director of public works.

He said the storm produced “heavy, wet snow.” A few of the snow plow vehicles for the county slipped off the road and became stuck. He said there were no injuries or damage but “you lose time.”

Spickelmier said roads in the county were “fair” Wednesday.

“We’re actually getting some muddy roads,” he said, which is something county workers haven’t had to deal with in a while.

He said the muddy roads has slowed down county crews.

He said all roads were open and passable Wednesday. He said crews will be widening the clearance on the county’s secondary roads. He said this work should be completed by the end of Friday.

In the city of Leavenworth, crews were pretty much done with their snow removal work. While Leavenworth Public Works Director Mike McDonald there probably would be a few odds and ends, Wednesday was mostly a maintenance day.

“It’s always hard on the equipment,” he said of snow removal.

He said crews would be removing snow from downtown Leavenworth Wednesday night. He said the snow would be moved to empty lots in the area of Second and Chestnut streets.

McDonald said the city of Leavenworth had used about 250 tons of salt and sand mix during the snow storms of last week and this week, but the city still has plenty of salt and sand.

Spickelmier said the county received salt shipments Wednesday and the county’s stockpile was in good shape.

“We’re very hopeful that this is the last snow event (of the season),” he said.

Local authorities didn’t report any major accidents as a result of the snow storm.

Maj. Dan Nicodemus, deputy chief of the Leavenworth Police Department, said officers received a number of reports of stuck vehicles.

“Some were able to get out before we could get there to help them,” he said.